Fruit-picker.



H. EVBRBTT & L. H. KURTH.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY a1, 1913.

6MM/tween @www M atm COLUMBIA PLANOGDAPM cn.. WAHNINGTDN. D. C.

STATESWPATEN OFFICE.

HARVEY EVERETT AND LOUIS H. KU'RTH, OF LE'WISTON, IDAHO.

FRUIT-PICKER;

roeaese.

To all 107mm t may concern Be it known that we, HARVEY Evnunr'r and Louis H. Knn'rn, citizens of the United States, residing` at Lewiston, in the county of Nez. Perce and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and uselul lmprovements in .Fruit-Pickers, of which the followingl a lspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain in1provements in fruit pickers and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character of a simple and comparatively inexpensive nature having means of a novel and improved character whereby the fruit after being picked is permitted to fall or drop in such a manner l as to effectively guard against the saine becoming bruised or otherwise injured.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set `forth.

The novel 4features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

in order that our invention may be the better understood,`we will now proceed to describe the same with reference 'to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of the device partly in section; Fig. 2 is'an enlarged fragmentary elevation ot' the upper end of the device partly in section; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one pair ot the levers; Fig. 4f is a section on the line 4-4L of Fig. 2; and Fiv. 5 is a section on the line of Fig. `2.

Referring more particularly to the d aw ing, the, numeral l designates a pole which may be of any desired length, and connected to the pole at intervals along its length are a plurality of clamping members 2. The clamping members are preferably formed of plates of spring metal, the intermediate portions of which are curved to form loops 3, the ends of the plates being bowed outwardly as at 4t, for engagement with the pole, and the extremities oit the plates extending in parallel relation for the reception of bolts 5- whereby the clamping members are securely fastened to the pole. Extending outwardly from each loop 3 is a pin 6, and

pivotally connected intermediate of `their Specification of Letters vliatent.

Application led .Tuly 31, 1913.

Patented June 9, 191.4. Serial No. 782.266.

ends to each pin is a pair of levers T. The upper ends of each pair of levers diverge as at 8, and to normally maintain the diverging ends ot the levers outwardly, V-shaped springs 9 are connected at their opposite ends to the inner 4faces ot' the divcrging portions ot the levers. Outwardly extending nippcrsl or arms Alll are connected to the efrtremities oi each pair ot lovers T, the nippers on the upper ends ot the levers being normally maintained in open position, while the nippers on the lower ends ol the levers are closed. A chute 1l of canvas or other suitable material is connected to lthe nippers by stitching or in any other desired manner, the chute being disposed between the pairs of nippers so that the portions of the chute between 4the nippers on the lower ends of each pair of levers are contracted, while the portions of the chute between the nippers on the upper ends of `the levers are maintained in expanded position.

Slidably disposed in the loops 3 of the clamping members is an operating rod 12, and connected at intervals along the length of thc rod are a plurality of outwardly extending rings 13, one ring being disposed around the diverging,portions ot cach pair of levers so that upon upward movement oi the rod 12, the upper ends oit' the levers are closed and the lower ends thereof opened. Connected to the upper cnds ot the upper pair oit levers 7 are a pair oit laterally ex tending vertically disposed severing devices 14 which are preferably7 composed of circular rims to "which gauze or some otherflexible material is secured, allowance being made for slackness, so that when `the fruit is grabbed by these devices it will yield to the pressure of the parts when they come t0 gether, therel'iy allowing the fruit to fall down into the chute when the latter is open. If desired, a metal tubing 15 may be connected to thc pole 1 to surround the upper end of the chute, so that when the device is in position to piel: fruit from the tops of trees, twigs and branches will be prevented from interfering with the operation of the nippers and will also be prevented from piercing the chute.

In the practical use of our device, the pole is held in elevated position, so that the fruit which it is desired to pick is disposed between the plucking devices 14, and

rod 12, it will be seen that the disks or nected lto said rims,

circular rims 14 will be closed one upon the other so as to llclose the fruit between and within the gauze coverings which are conwhereupon by pulling g downwardly uponthe pole, the fruit is severed from the tree. Upon a downward i movement of the operating rod 12, the l plucking devices 14 will be separated, and the nippers 10 on the lower ends of the upper pair of levers 7 will be closed, thereby allowing the fruit to fall from the plucking devices into the chute. The passage of fruit through the chute will be stopped by the contracted portions thereof, owing to the closing of the nippers lupon the lower ends of the upper pair of levers. ln this position, the plucking devices are open for en*V gageinent with another fruit and upon upward movement of the lever 12 to close the pluclrin'g devices about the fruit', the nipi pers 10 upon the lower ends of the upper l levers 7 are opened to allow the fruit supl l l ported thereupon to fall upon the upper nippers 10 oit' the pair of levers disposed directly below the upper pair of levers, It will be seen that upon repeated operations' of the operating rod 12, the fruit within the chute will be allowed to gradually or intermittently pass therethrough out of the lower end thereof into any suitable recepl tacle. Y l What we claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pole, a flexible` chute, pairs l of pivotally connected leversV carried by 1 said pole, the upper ends of said leversnorl mally diverging from each other, outwardly extending nippers carried by Vthe opposite l ends of said levers and surrounding said i and means for closing the nippers on l one end of said levers and opening the nipl pers on the other ends of said levers simull taneously, as and for the purpose described. l

2. Av device of the `character describedlI comprising av pole, pairs of v'pivotally Vconl nected levers carried by'said pole', the upper l ends of said levers normally diverging from l chute,

1,099,2seV

connected to the opposite ends of said levers,

a iiexible chute carried within said nippers,

means for normally maintaining the diverging ends of said levers spaced i'frompeachV i other, and means for simultaneously closing the diverging ends of said levers, as and for the purposeV described. Y .f

3. A device of the character described comprising a pole, nected levers carried by said pole, the upper ends of each pairof levers normally divergoutwardly extending;

ing trom each other, nippers connected to the opposite said levers, said nippei's, nected to said pole, springs disposed between the diverging portions of each pair of levers, and rings connected at intervals to said operating rod, said rings surrounding the diverging portions of said levers, as and for the purpose described.

4. Adevice of the class described, comprising a pole,'pairs of pivotally connected levers carriedby said pole, the upper ends of eachk pair of levers normally diverging from each other, outwardly extending nippers connected to the opposite ends of said levers, aY iie'xible chute carried within ends of pairs of pivotally con-V a flexible chute carriedv within an operating rod slidably con-V said nippers, anV operating rodA slidingly conf l nected to said p ole, springs disposed between the diverging portions 'of each pair of levers, ringsconnected at intervals to said operating rod, saidv rings surrounding they nesses. Y

' HARVEY- lElVERET-l.v v Y LOUIS I-LKURTH.

'Witnesses: Y Y

JAMESV R. TURNBULL, LiLLiaN EGKEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by'addressingl'the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,y D. C,

said pluckingV y l of Ytwo wit- 

